124 Beyer for Midnight Lute

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

[Snarl] Racing secretaries don't want 10f horses anymore; don't write races for them (how many G1, G2, or G3 races at 10f on dirt on the East Coast circuit this year?). So come time for the biggies, we have to guess which 9f horse can carry on one more furlong.

That is not true. They write plenty of longer races but they rarely fill. Do you really think a racing secretary cares what distance his races are as long as they are good sized, competitive fields? There is not a lot of guys asking for 1 1/4 races or else they would card more of them. The races that were cut in distance weren't cut because of overflow fields. Actually there are plenty of longer races for graded stakes horses. There are virtually none for the cheaper levels.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think that's a very important factor that is overlooked by nearly everyone. For example, take Belmont Park. Now, if a horse goes out there and runs a stakes race at 9f in 1:46 1/5, everyone goes crazy over the time and because it's the only route that day, there's nothing to compare it too. People forget though that Belmont is a track that a 1:46 1/5 is not overly fast. I mean, it's fast but it's not the same as a 1:46 1/5 would be anywhere else. I've seen so many sub-1:47's there that I can't keep count.

1:45 4/5
Go for Wand
Dispersal

1:46
Riboletta

1:46 1/5
Sharp Cat
Ghostzapper
Mineshaft
In Excess
Seattle Fitz
Seeking Daylight
Running Stag
Formal Gold
Oratory

1:46 2/5
Lakeway

1:46 3/5
Festin
Strike the Gold
Limehouse
Subordination
Wekiva Springs
Devil His Due

1:46 4/5
Saratoga Dew
River Keen
Holy Bull
Forever Silver

When looked at this way, each of these races probably stood out as very fast on their particular cards. But when looked at in line with what stakes horses regularly do there at that distance, it gives u a better sense of where a race actually fits.

Belmont is a 1 turn 1 1/8th hence the faster times.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

124 for Midnight Lute yesterday, Lawyer Ron got a 118. Benny the Bull at 119 seems a bit of a stretch to me but the time was scorching.

figs now on DRF leaderboard have been nudged up to 125 for Midnight Lute, 119 for Lawyer Ron.

--Dunbar